Recommendations for Paediatric Respiratory Physiotherapy Care of the Complex Child in the Community

The Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists Respiratory Committee recognise that provision of paediatric respiratory physiotherapy in the community for children and young people with complex needs varies across the UK. In the absence of quality research to guide practice, these recommendations aim to share best practice in the commissioning, training and delegation of respiratory physiotherapy care for children and young people.

Children and Young People (CYP) with complex disabilities such as severe global developmental delay (SGDD) and neuromuscular disease (NMD) suffer from a high incidence of respiratory problems which are multifactorial. This often results in lengthy hospital admissions and impacts upon quality of life for CYP and their families. Illness and premature death occurs most frequently as a result of compromised pulmonary function and associated respiratory infections.

Increasing numbers of these CYP are being managed in the community rather than in the acute setting and with an increased use of supportive technology. This document focuses on the care of these children with complex needs rather than children with primary respiratory pathology such as cystic fibrosis